Understanding Past Tense in Bahasa Indonesia
In Bahasa Indonesia, talking about the past is a bit different from English. Instead of changing the verb, we often use the word 'sudah' to show that something has happened. Sometimes, context can also tell us that we are talking about the past.
Important Points
- 'Sudah' is placed before the verb.
- Context clues, like time words, can also indicate past tense.
- Unlike English, verbs in Bahasa Indonesia do not change form based on tense.
When you use 'sudah', it means that something has already been done. It's like saying 'already' in English. If you don't use 'sudah', you might use a time word like 'kemarin' (yesterday) to show that something happened in the past.
Examples
- Saya sudah makan.
- Dia sudah pergi ke sekolah.
- Kami sudah selesai bermain.
Sometimes, you don't need to use 'sudah' if the context makes it clear that you're talking about the past. For example, if you use words like 'kemarin' (yesterday) or 'tadi' (earlier), people will understand that you mean the past.
Examples
- Kemarin, saya pergi ke pasar.
- Tadi, dia menonton film.
- Pagi tadi, kami bersepeda.